Chendamangalam Synagogue

The Chendamangalam Synagogue (Malayalam: ചേന്ദമംഗലം ജൂതപള്ളി) (Hebrew; בית הכנסת צ'נמנגלם) is one of the oldest known synagogues built by the Malabar Jews, in Chendamangalam, a village in the Ernakulam district of the coastal state of Kerala. It is dated to 1100 A.D, though the synagogue structure itself dates to 1420 A.D or 1614 A.D., making it the oldest synagogue in the Commonwealth of Nations. A tombstone recovered from Kodungallur was stored in this synagogue and is presently on display in the frontyard. This tombstone with the inscription of Sarah bat Israel is the oldest Jewish epitaph found in India, dating to 1269 A.D.

For a full list of Synagogues in Kerala, see List of Synagogues in Kerala.
Chendamangalam Synagogue

בית הכנסת צ'נמנגלם

ചേന്ദമംഗലം ജൂതപള്ളി
Religion
AffiliationOrthodox Judaism
StatusKerala Jews Lifestyle Museum
Location
LocationChendamangalam, Kerala
CountryIndia
Geographic coordinates10.1797°N 76.2097°E / 10.1797; 76.2097
Architecture
TypeSynagogue
StyleCochin Jewish Architecture Portuguese colonial architecture
Completed1420 A.D
Direction of façadeSouth

After the entire congregation made aliyah to Israel in 1950s, the synagogue was defunct for decades. Today it serves as a Kerala Jews Lifestyle Museum for the Muziris Project, a conservation project by the Government of Kerala. The synagogue is open to visitors from 9:30 am to 5:00 pm on weekdays.[1]

History
For more information, see Chendamangalam, Cochin Jews, and History of the Jews in India.

The hillocks at Kottayil Kovilakam are unique as the site of a Hindu temple, a Syrian Christian church, a mosque and a restored Jewish synagogue,[2] all within 1 km of each other.

Here are remains of the Vypeenakotta Seminary built for Syrians in the 16th century by the Portuguese. Adjacent to the seminary is an old Syrian Catholic Church built in 1201. It is also the site of the first printing press in India.

Objects of Interest
Tombstone of Sarah bat Israel

Tombstone of Sarah bat Israel

A tombstone recovered from Kodungallur was stored in this synagogue and is presently on display in the front yard . This tombstone with the inscription of "Sarah bat Israel" is the oldest Jewish epitaph found in India, dating to November 1269 A.D. (Kislev 1581 Seleucid era).

Hekkal

The Heichal of the Chendamangalam synagogue is one of the most ornately carved torah ark in kerala. The style of the ark is Italian with gilded filigree work. It bears the crown insignia of the tribe of Judah.

Golden Sefer Torah Crown

This was a crown gifted by the Maharaja of Travancore to the Chendamangalam Jews. The crown was weighed 212 carats and was made of solid gold Studded with rubies and emeralds. A rimon from the Palayoor Synagogue was brought and stored in this synagogue. This was later purchased by the Paravur Synagogue which in turn sold it to the Kadavumbhagam Synagogue in Ernakulam. The crown was later taken to Israel and stored in moshav Nevatim. In 2008, thieves broke into the moshav and stole this crown. Its whereabouts are currently unknown.

Chendamangalam Jewish Cemetery

There is also an abandoned Jewish cemetery behind the mosque, about 400 m from the synagogue, which has not been restored yet.[3]

See also

References
  1. Chendamangalam Synagogue
  2. The Synagogues of Kerala: Architecture
  3. "Minor Synagogues of Kerala". Minor Sights. Retrieved 9 April 2016.
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